Expert: stay alert for flu this winter
( 2003-08-25 10:53) (CRIENGLISH.com )
Experts say in these years
the flu is in a quick mutation and possibly an exploding period. And in case of
being mis-diagnosed as SARS and causing panic among public, experts suggest
people get injections against the flu before the onset of winter.
Lu
Feng: The flu is actually a more lethal disease than SARS. In 1918 alone it
killed 20 to 50 million people around the world.
Experts say the flu is currently the most rapidly mutating and most
infectious respiratory disease, which also can easily set off other diseases. In
such circumstances, patients may even die from the disease. He Xiong is the
deputy director of Beijing Center for disease control and prevention.
"When a new mutation of flu disease comes into being, it becomes more
infectious and more lethal than in its original state. And it can be easily
spread around the world and kill millions."
Director He Xiong says it's especially important for people to stay alert for
the flu this winter, since the disease has symptoms similar to those of SARS.
And scientists still don't know if SARS will come back again this winter. If
that happens, it will be easy for SARS patients and flu patients to become
cross-infected in hospitals.
So experts suggest people don't forget to get flu vaccination before the
arrival of winter. But this does not mean you will be a hundred percent safe. As
the flu undergoes small mutations every year, the effectiveness of the vaccine
is only 70 to 90 percent, and should be administered every year. So the best way
to make sure you stay safe this winter is to stay away from crowded places and
keep warm.
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